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JD SCIENCE · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · www.jdscience.co.uk
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JD SCIENCE · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · www.jdscience.co.uk
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JD SCIENCE · www.jdscience.co.uk
AQA GCSE Biology (8461)
GCSE Biology
Topic worksheet

Inheritance, variation and evolution

Time guide: 50–60 minutes · Questions: 32 · Total marks: 104
Written in AQA style. Use AQA command words. Quality of written communication is assessed on the 6-mark question.

Answer all questions. Show working. Answers are in a separate file on the Worksheets page — do not look at them until you have finished.

1.
State what is meant by a gene. [1]
2.
State what is meant by an allele. [1]
3.
State what is meant by a chromosome. [1]
4.
State what is meant by meiosis. [1]
5.
State what is meant by a mutation. [1]
6.
State what is meant by natural selection. [1]
7.
State what is meant by genetic engineering. [1]
8.
State what is meant by a Punnett square. [1]
9.
State what is meant by genotype. [1]
10.
State what is meant by sexual reproduction. [1]
11.
Amira is asked about a gene in a AQA Biology paper.
(a) Describe a gene. [2]
(b) Explain why a gene is important in this topic. [3]
12.
Amira is asked about an allele in a AQA Biology paper.
(a) Describe an allele. [2]
(b) Explain why an allele is important in this topic. [3]
13.
Amira is asked about a chromosome in a AQA Biology paper.
(a) Describe a chromosome. [2]
(b) Explain why a chromosome is important in this topic. [3]
14.
Amira is asked about meiosis in a AQA Biology paper.
(a) Describe meiosis. [2]
(b) Explain why meiosis is important in this topic. [3]
15.
Amira is asked about a mutation in a AQA Biology paper.
(a) Describe a mutation. [2]
(b) Explain why a mutation is important in this topic. [3]
16.
Amira is asked about natural selection in a AQA Biology paper.
(a) Describe natural selection. [2]
(b) Explain why natural selection is important in this topic. [3]
17.
In a monohybrid cross Bb × Bb, what fraction of offspring are expected to be recessive? [3]
18.
80 offspring are produced from Bb × Bb. How many are expected to be heterozygous? [3]
19.
A gene has alleles in the ratio 3 : 1 of tall : short. In 200 plants, how many short? [3]
20.
The chance of a boy is 0.5. What is the chance of two girls in a row? [3]
21.
A DNA sequence is 300 bases. How many amino acids could it code for (ignore start/stop)? [3]
22.
A population of 400 beetles includes 36 white (recessive). Estimate q² and q if HWE is assumed. [3]
23.
Amira carries out modelling meiosis or fertilisation with cards or beads. This is a typical AQA required-practical style question.
(a) Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable. [2]
(b) State one control variable and explain why it must be controlled. [2]
(c) Suggest one improvement or source of error and how it affects the result. [2]
24.
Amira carries out extracting DNA from fruit. This is a typical AQA required-practical style question.
(a) Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable. [2]
(b) State one control variable and explain why it must be controlled. [2]
(c) Suggest one improvement or source of error and how it affects the result. [2]
25.
Amira carries out investigating variation in a class (hand span / height). This is a typical AQA required-practical style question.
(a) Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable. [2]
(b) State one control variable and explain why it must be controlled. [2]
(c) Suggest one improvement or source of error and how it affects the result. [2]
26.
Amira carries out dissecting a flower to identify male and female parts. This is a typical AQA required-practical style question.
(a) Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable. [2]
(b) State one control variable and explain why it must be controlled. [2]
(c) Suggest one improvement or source of error and how it affects the result. [2]
27.
Compare mitosis with meiosis. [4]
28.
Compare sexual reproduction with asexual reproduction. [4]
29.
Compare dominant allele with recessive allele. [4]
30.
Compare natural selection with genetic engineering. [4]
31.
Apply your knowledge of genetic engineering to this situation: higher yield vs ethical / ecological concerns [3]
32.
Apply your knowledge of a Punnett square to this situation: fertilisation is random / small sample [3]